Joseph d



(No Model.)

J. D. ADAMS. WHEEL ADJUSTMENT FOR ROAD GRADERS. No. 462,679. PatentedNov. 10, 1891.

W/T/VESSES: INVENTOR W BY ATTORNEY mus runs co., mmmmm, vusumarou n cUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPILDFADAMS, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

WHEEL ADJUSTMENT FOR ROAD-GRADERS SPECIFICATION forming part of LettersPatent No. 462,679, dated November 10, 1891. Application filed June 8,1891. Serial No. 395,521. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOSEPH D. ADAMS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Indianapolis,in the county of Marion and State of Indiana,have invented a new and useful Improvement in lVheel Adjustments forRoad-Graders, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of roadgrading machines in which thecarrying wheels are mounted upon short axles which are pivoted to theends of the main axle in such a manner that the wheels may be'inclinedvertically for the purpose of resisting the sidethrust of the scraper.

The object of my improvement is to provide improved means for adjustably supporting the wheels and securely holding them at any requireddegree of inclination.

The accompanying drawings illustrate my invention.

Figure l is a plan of the forward axle and wheels of a road-gradingmachine having my improvement. Fig. 2 represents a rear elevation at theline a, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section at b, Fig. 1.

In the drawings, A A are the carryingwheels.

B is the main axle.

O and D are short axles or spindles, which are pivoted at O D,respectively, to the op-' posite ends of the main axle, so as to swingin a vertical plane thereon, and on which the carrying-wheels aremounted. Short vertical levers E E are secured to the spindles O and D,so as to move therewith. The upper ends of the levers E E are connectedby a pair of bars F F, which are secured together so as to constitute,practically, one bar. Secured between the bars F rigidly at theircenter, so as to project below theirloweredges,isa curved rack-bar G.

Mounted uponthe main axleB at right an- "les thereto is a bracket II, inwhich are formed bearings for a shaft I, to which are secured aspur-pinion J and a screw gearwheel K, the former of which intermesheswith the rack-bar G.

Mounted in suitable bearings on one side of the bracket II is a shortinclined shaft L, carrying at one end a screw M, which interin esheswith the screw gear-wheel K. The opposite end of the shaft L is providedwith a crank N, having at its free end a heavy knob or handle 0. Theshaft L is placed at an angle to the perpendicular, so that while thecrank N and its knob O are in a convenient position for operation theweight of the knob 0 will tend to prevent the accidental rotation of theshaft L. The forward part H of the bracket II is extended to receive thedraftpole I,

In operation the bar F, connecting the levers E, is moved in thedirection of its length by rotating the shaft L, this operating throughthe screw M, gear-wheel K, shaft I, and pinion J to swing the axles Oand-D in a vertical plane simultaneously upon the main axle andinclining the wheels A A in either direction, so as to resist theside-thrust common in this class of machines. By the peculiarconstruction and arrangement of the mechanism for adjusting the wheelsthey are held in any desired position without the use of specialfastening mechanism. The bar F, as it is moved longitudinally, is alsoraised or lowered by the action of the levers E, and the curved form ofthe rack-bar G is substantiallya segment of a circle whose radius isequalto that of a lever E, less that of the pinion .I.

I claim as my invention--- The combination, with the main axle, theshort axles pivoted to the opposite ends of the main axle and havingcarrying-wheels mounted thereon,thc vertical levers attached to saidshort axles, and the bar connecting said levers, of the curved rack-barrigidly secured to said connecting-bar, the bracket scoured to the mainaxle, the shaft mounted in hearings in said bracket and carrying at oneend a screw gear-wheel and carrying at the other end a spur-pinion whichengages said curved rack-bar, the screw arranged to engage said screwgearwheel, and the crank arranged to operate said screw, all arranged toco-operate substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

JOSEPH D. ADAMS.

\Vitnesses:

H. F. 11001), V. M. 11001).

